Pin sorting machine



June 21, 1960 E. RAPHAEL 2,941,649

PIN SORTNG MACHINE Filed Sept. 20, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. EDWIN RAPHAEL U June 21, 1960 E. RAPHAEL PIN SORTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 20, 1957 3 SheetS-Sheet 2 g' gf@ k),

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Bowm RAPHAEL Jne 21, 1960 E. RAPHAEL PIN SORTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 20, 1957 Nm m.. Mr T A m m %W Wam- N h. om M Y E 2 w\\ N$\. wm vw Nw p a M A ww Q\\\ NNQMI VQ NQ u v u y v u y u u u y u y u v u u u N||vl u u Wu. .QQ MQ A@ lv@ n A n n ^j n WM\\^ IDA.- A A-Jn m n IMT.- n 3^ h d QQ\ United States Patent O PIN SORTING MACHINE Edwin Raphael, 157 Central Ave., Holland, Mich.

Filed Sept. 20, 1957, Ser. No. 685,236

15 Claims. (Cl. 198-30) This invention relates to machines `and methods for separating individual pinhooks from tangled masses thereof.

Pinhooks utilized in hanging curtains, draperies and the like are in general curved and sufficiently complicated in shape that they become entangled when masses thereof are assembled. For example, when shipping the pinhooks from a manufacturer to a user, the pinhooks are ordinarily placed in barrels, cartons or the like. During shipment in the barrels, the pinhooks are jostled suiiciently so that they become thoroughly entangled by the time they reach their destination. Before using the pinhooks, the pinhooks must be disentangled from the mass in the shipping container such as the barrel. In addition it is desirable in certain applications further to arrange the pinhooks in a predetermined order as for example in aligned rows or books as illustrated in my prior Patent 2,692,382, issued `October 26, `1954.

Accordingly, itis an important object of the present invention to provide an improved machine for separating individual pinhooks from tangled masses thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the type set forth which rapidly and eiliciently separates pinhooks from tangled masses thereof whereby to present the pinhooks singly to` subsequent operating stations.

i Still another object of the invention is to provide a fully automatic pinhook sorting machine of the type set forth which can continuously separate tangled pinhooks into separate and free pinhooks, all of the pinhooks being disentangled.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method of disentangling and sorting pinhooks from tangled masses thereof.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings wherein like reference numerals have been utilizedlto designate like parts throughout:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a pinhook sorting machine made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention and adapted to carry out the sorting method of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section through the machine of Figure l substantially as seen in the direc of the arrows along the line 2-2 thereof, a modified form of the invention being shown by dashed lines there- 1n;

u 'Figure 3 is a view in vertical section through the sorting` pockets and the support table therefor'substantially as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line 3-3 of fFigure l;

Figure 4 is a view in vertical section through the dam and raceway of the present invention substantially as seen in the direction ofthe arrows along the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale ICC through the drive mechanism for the sorting pockets substantially as seen in the direction of the arrows along theline 5-5 of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a view of a typical pinhook which can be usefully sorted using the machine and' method of the present invention.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a pinhooksorting machine generally designated by the numeral 10 which is made in accordance with and embodies the principles of the present invention, the machine also being adapted to carry out the sorting method of the present invention. In general the machine 10 includes a feed chute 12, a sorting table 14, a sorting pocket structure generally designated by the numeral 16, a channeled endless conveyor 18, a raceway 20, a dam 22, a tangled pinhook clearing mechanism 24, and a plurality of discharge chutes 26 which convey the disentangled free pinhooks to subsequent operating stations generally designated by the numeral 28. The pinhooks to be sorted are emptied from the containers such as barrels in which they are shipped and are deposited upon the downwardly inclined feed chute 12. The feed chute 12 includes more specifically a downwardly inclined feed surface bounded on the ends by end walls 32 and provided with a rear wall 34. The feed chute 12 is suitably supported upon the machine frame generally designated by the numeral 36 (see particularly Figure 2 of the drawings).

The tangled pinhooks fall downwardly across the surface 30 and onto the sorting table 14. The sorting table 14 is substantially rectangular in shape and extends beyond the end walls 32 of the feed chute 12. A main frame 36 provides a suitable support for the table 14. Mounted for reciprocation upon the table 14 is the sorting pocket structure 16. The structure 16 is divided into a plurality of individual sorting pockets, nine sorting pockets having been shown for purposes of illustration. More specifically, the structure 16 is provided with a pair of upstanding end walls 38 and a plurality of intermediate walls 40, the walls 38 and 40 being disposed substantially parallel to each otherand extending away from the feed chute 12. The rear ends of the walls 38 and 40 are all joined by a rear wall 42 which completely closes the rear side of the pockets formed by adjacent walls. The forward ends of the walls 38 and 40 are interconnnected by a top member 44 whereby to provide open ends for the various pockets formed by the walls 38 and 40 adjacent the top member 44. More specifically, as may be best seen from Figure 3 of the drawings, the top member 44 together with the sorting table 14 and the walls 38 and 42 provide substantially rectangular exit openings for the pockets. For purposes of con venience, the pockets of the sorting structure 16 will be designated by the numeral 46.

The rear ends of the pockets 46 extend rearwardly beneath the lower end of the feed chute 12. The upper sides of the pockets 46 are open whereby to receive tangled pinhooks from the feed chute 12. Sorting of the tangled pinhoolcs within the pockets 46 is achieved by reciprocating the pocket sorting structure 16 upon the sorting table 14.4 To this end a drive mechanism has been provided whereby the suitable reciprocation of the structure 16 can bederived from a main drive motor 4S. One of the 'outputs from the drive motor 4S appears on a shaft 50 which in turn drives a first speed reducer 52. One of the outputs from the speed reducer 52 appears on a shaft 54 which drives a cam 56 (see particularly Figure 5 of the drawings). The cam 56 engages a cam follower 58 which is mounted on an upstanding arm 60. The lower end of the arm 60 is pivoted to the machine frame 36 as at 62. Accordingly, rotation of the cam 56 in engagement with the cam follower 58 will reciprocate the upper end of the arm 60. The upper end of the arm 60 is in bearing engagement with a roller 62 which is mounted upon a link 64 which is pivotally attached to the rear wall 42 as at 66. Movement of the upper end of the arm 60 to the left as viewed in Figure by engagement of the cam. follower 58 with the larger portion of the cam 56 will, accordingly, move the sorting .pocket structure 16 to the left as viewed in Figure 5 and downward as viewed in Figure l. Means is provided to return the structure 16 to right as viewed in Figure 5 and upwardly as viewed in Figure 1. To this end an upstanding bracket 68 is mounted on the sorting table 14 and extends upwardly therefrom. The bracket 68 engages one end of a return spring 70, the other end of the spring 70 being connected to a bracket 72 which is attached to the rear wall 42. The spring 70 is normally under tension and urges the structure 16 along table 14 upwardly as viewed in Figure 1 against bumper members 74 mounted on the table 14. From the above described drive mechanism it will be seen that the cam 56 acting against the cam follower 58 will periodicallyv move the structure 16 to the left as viewed in Figure 5 and the spring 70 will return the structure 16 to the right as viewed in Figure 5. This will cause a reciprocation of the structure 16 upon the table 14.

The tangled pinhooks rest upon the table 14 within the pockets 46 and are butleted by the walls 38 and 40 of the pockets as the structure 16 is reciprocated. It has been found that rapid reciprocation of the structure 16 tends to disentangle individual free pinhooks from tangled masses thereof. The free pinhooks are moved also by the reciprocating motion of the structure 16 toward the right as viewed in Figure 1 and toward the open ends of the pockets 46 which are disposed beneath the top member y44. It has been found that by the present machine as many as 80% to 90% of the pinhooks are fully disentangled upon reaching the openings in the ends of the pockets 46. Preferably the pockets 46 are substantially longer than they are wide and also the reciprocation is preferably in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pockets. In a typical structure, for example, each of the walls 38 and 40 may be 2() inches long and 4 inches high. The pockets 46 are preferably at least as long as they are wide and it is further preferred that the length of the pockets be several times the width thereof and that the pockets be reciprocated uponV the table 14 in a direction perpendicular to the longer dimension thereof.

The pinhooks which are substantially sorted pass ontwardly from the pockets 46 under the top member 44 and fall upon the conveyor 18. It is to be noted that the conveyor 18 has a width equal to that of the sorting table 14 whereby some portion of the conveyor 18 will be in position to receive pinhooks from the sorting structure 16 regardless of the position of the sortingv structure 16 upon the table 14. In this connection it will also be noted that the feed chute 12 has a length less than the length of the sorting structure 16 so that some portion of the sorting structure 16 is positioned beneath every portion of the feed chute 12 at all times and even during reciprocation of the sorting structure 16 upon the sorting table 14.

Preferably the conveyor 18 is of the endless belt type and includes a continuous belt 76 which is supported upon a plurality of `drive rolls 78. The belt 76 is provided with a plurality of upstanding integral and flexible walls 80 which move with the belt 76 and divide the belt 76 into longitudinally extending separate channels. Drive for the belt 76 is derived from the motor 48. More specifically, one set of the drive rolls 78 is driven from the speed reducer 52 through an output shaft 82 therefrom. The other set of drive rolls 78 is driven from a speed reducer 84 through a shaft 86, the speed reducer 84 being driven from the motor 48 through a shaft 88.

, ignated by the numeral 92 of the type which can .usei The endless conveyor 18 receives the sorted pinhooks from the table 14 and because of the walls 80 thereof forms the free pinhooks into channels or rows. The sorted pinhooks thus channelized are deposited by the conveyor 18 on the downwardly inclined raceway 20. Accordingly, the pinhooks fall along raceway 20 in well delined channels as determined by the walls on the conveyor 18. Longitudinal wallsV 89 are provided on the raceway 20 in alignment with the walls 80.

There is positioned above the raceway 20 the dam 22. Morespecically, the lower end of the dam 22 has a slot therein defined by a downwardly inclined surface 90 spaced from the surface of the raceway 20. The distance between the surface of the raceway 20 and the surface 90 of the dam 22 is slightly greater than the flat dimension of a pinhook. Referring to Figure 6 of the drawings, there is shown a typical pinhook generally desfullybe sorted using the machine 10. Although the pinhook 92 is curved somewhat intricately as viewed in Figure 6 of the drawings, in side elevation 'the pinhook 92 is substantially flat and has a thickness equal to the size of the material forming the major U-shaped portion 94 thereof. The distance between the surfaces 20 and 90 is slightly greater than the thickness of the portion 94 whereby to permit passage of the pinhooks 9,2 beneath the dam 22 if they are moved along the raceway 20 singly and at and without any bunching or overlapping. If there is any entanglement or overlapping of the pinhooks, they will be stopped by the dam 90 and held thereby. Accordingly, only free disentangled pinhooks will fall `downwardly along the chutes 26 and into the subsequent operating station 28.

Means is provided periodically to remove the pinhooks which are stopped by the dam 22. More specifically, an endless chain 96 is provided which is supported by a pair of sprockets 98 and 100. The sprockets 98 and 100 are mounted upon frame members 102 which are in turn supported by the main frame 36. Drive is provided for the chain 96 from the motor 48 through the speed reducer 84, operative connection being made to the sprocket 98. Mounted on the chain 96 and conveyed thereby is a pusher 104 (see particularly Figure 4) which is adapted to be moved along the surface of the raceway 20 in front of the dam 22 and through the interruptions in thewalls 89. The pusher 104 engages and pushes before it all the pinhooks stopped by the dam 22. The tangled pinhooks are conveyed to the right hand side of the machine as viewed in Figure 4 and onto a downwardly inclined trough `106'. The trough 106 in one preferred form of the invention empties into a suitable container such as a barrel. VPeriodically the barrel lbeneath the chute 106 is emptied into the main feed chute 12 whereby to recycle the tangled pinhooks. After passing the right hand end of the raceway 20 as viewed in Figure 4, the pusher member 104 moves upwardly and travels along the upper reach of the chain 96, the upper reach of the chain96 being supported at spaced intervals iby supply bars 108. The travel ofthe chain 96 is regulated so that the pusher member 104 periodically clears the dam to remove the tangledpinhooks therefrom. If desired, a plurality of the pushers 104 may be provided at spaced apart intervals along the chain 96. Y

In another preferred embodiment of Vthe invention the tangled pinhooks falling down the chute 106 are automatically returned to the main feed chute 12. To this end there is provided below the discharge end of the chute 106 an endless conveyor 110 which is provided with a plurality of transversely extending carrying hars 112 thereacross. The conveyor extends upwardly from beneath the discharge end of the chute 106 to an elevated point (see Figure 2). At' the elevated point, the conveyor y110 then empties into a downwardly and inwardly inclined transfer chute 114 which is suitably mounted upon the machine frame `36. The chute 114'emptiesfin'to the main feed chute 12. Drive for the conveyor 110 is derived from the motor 48 through the speed reducer 84.

-It will be seen that there has been provided a pinhook Asorting machine and method which fulfill all of the objects and advantages set forth above. Although certain perferred forms of the invention have been described and illustrated, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications can be made therein Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only as set 4forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A pinhook sorting machine comprising a substantially horizontal support table, an elongated pocket mounted for reciprocation on said support table and having an opening at one end thereof and being closed at the other end thereof, and drive means to reciprocate said pocket in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof upon said table to cause pinhooks in said pocket to disentangle and to move out of said pocket through said opening.

2. A pinhook sorting machine comprising a substantially horizontal support table, an elongated pocket mounted for reciprocation on said table and having an opening at one end thereof to permit passage of disentangled pinhooks therethrough and being closed at the other end thereof, a feed aperture at the top of said pocket adjacent to the end thereof opposite said opening to receive tangled pinhooks, and drive mechanism to reciprocate said pocket upon said table in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said pocket to cause pinhooks in said pocket to disentangle and to move out of said pocket through said opening.

3. A pin hook sorting machine comprising substantially horizontal support table, a plurality ofinterconnected pockets mounted for reciprocation on said table, each of said pockets being elongated and disposed with the longitudinal axis thereof parallel to the axes of the other of said pockets and having an opening at one end thereof and being closed at the other end thereof, and

drive mechanism to reciprocate said pockets upon said table in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said pocket to cause pinhooks in said pocket to disentangle and to move out of said pockets through said opening.

4. A pinhook sorting machine comprising a substantially horizontal support table, a pocket mounted for reciprocation on said table, said pocket including a pair of longitudinal side walls closed at one end and defining an opening at the other end thereof, and drive mechanism to reciprocate said pocket upon said table only in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said walls to cause pinhooks in said pocket to disentangle and to move out of said pocket through said openings.

5. A pinhook sorting machine comprising a substantially horizontal support table, a plurality of tangled pinhook receiving pockets mounted in juxtaposed relationship upon said table, each of said pockets having a pair of longitudinal side walls closed at one end and defining an opening at the other end, and drive mechanism to reciprocate said pockets upon said table in a direction perpendicular tothe axis of said longitudinal walls to cause pinhooks in said pockets to disentangle and to move out of said pockets through said openings.

6. A pinhook sorting machine comprising a substantially horizontal support table, a plurality of tangled pinhook receiving pockets mounted in juxtaposed relationship upon said table, each of said pockets having a pair of longitudinal side Walls closed at one end and defining an opening at the other end, the length of said pockets being several times the width thereof, and drive mechanism to reciprocate said pockets upon said table in a direction perpendicular to the axis of said longitudinal walls to cause pinhooks in said pockets to disentangle and to move out of said pockets through said openings.

tially horizontal support table, a tangled pinhook receiving pocket having a pair of side Walls mounted for reciprocation on said table and having an opening at one end thereof and being closed at the other end thereof, drive means to reciprocate said pocket upon said table in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said side walls to cause the pinhooks in said pocket to disentangle and to move out of said pocket through said opening, and a restricted passage disposed in the path of travel of pinhooks leaving said opening to pass single pinhooks and to stop tangled pinhooks.

8. A pinhook sorting machine comprising a substantially horizontal support table, a tangled pinhook receiving pocket having a pair of side walls mounted for reciprocation on said table and having an opening at one end thereof and being closed at the other end thereof, drive means to reciprocate said pocket upon said table in a Vdirection perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said side walls to cause the pinhooks 4in said pocket to disentangle and to move out of said pocket through said opening, a raceway to receive pinhooks issuing from said opening, and a dam mounted over said raceway and spaced therefrom to pass single pinhooks and to stop tangled pinhooks.

9. A pinhook sorting machine comprising a substantially horizontal support table, a tangled pinhook receiving pocket having a pair of side walls mounted for reciprocation on said table and having an opening at one end thereof and being closed at the other end thereof, drive means to reciprocate said pocket upon said table in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said side wal-1s to cause the pinhooks in said pocket to disentangle and to move out of said pocket through said opening, a raceway to receive pinhooks issuing from said opening, a dam mounted over said raceway and spaced therefrom to pass single pinhooks and to stop tangled pinhooks, and means to clear tangled pinhooks from said dam.

10. A pinhook sorting machine comprising a substantially horizontal support table, a tangled pinhook receiving pocket having a pair of side Walls mounted for reciprocation on said table and having .an opening at one end thereof and being closed at the other end thereof, drive means to reciprocate said pocket upon said table in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said side walls to cause the pinhooks in said pocket to disentangle and to move out of said pocket through said opening, an endless conveyor having the input end thereof positioned adjacent to said opening to receive pinhooks therefrom, a raceway positioned adjacent to the outlet end of said conveyor, and a dam mounted above said raceway and spaced therefrom to pass single pinhooks thereby and to stop tangled pinhooks.

11. A pinhook sorting machine comprising a substantially horizontal support table, a tangled pinhook receiving pocket having a pair of side walls, mounted for reciprocation on said table and having an opening at one end thereof and being closed at the other end thereof, drive means to reciprocate said pocket upon said table in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said side Walls to cause the pinhooks in said pocket to disentangle and to move out of said pocket through said opening, an endless conveyor having the input end thereof positioned adjacent to said opening to receive pinhooks therefrom, channels formed on said conveyor to confine pinhooks thereon -into rows, a raceway positioned adjacent to the outlet end of said conveyor, said raceway having channels thereon in alignment with the channels on said conveyor, and a dam mounted above said raceway and spaced therefrom to pass single pinhooks thereby and to stop tangled pinhooks.

12. A pinhoolr sorting machine comprising a substantially horizontal support table, a tangled pinhook receiv- I ing pocket mounted lfor reciprocation on said table and having an opening at one end thereof and being closed at the other end thereof, drive means to reciprocate said pocket upon said table to cause the pinhooks in said pocket to disentangle and to move out of said pocket throughl said opening, an endless conveyor having the input end thereof positioned adjacent to said opening to receive pinhooks therefrom, channels formed on said conveyor to confine pinhooks thereon into rows, a raceway positioned adjacent the outlet end of said conveyor, said raceWay having channels thereon in alignment with the channels on said conveyor, a dam mounted above said raceway and spaced therefrom to pass single pinhooks thereby and to stop tangled pinhooks, and means to clear tangled pinhooks from said dam.

13. A pinhook sorting machine comprising a substantially lhorizontal support table, a tangled pinhook receiving pocket mounted for reciprocation on said table and havingl an opening atV one end thereof and being closed at the other end thereof, drive means to reciprocate said pocket upon said table to ca use the pinhooks in said pocket to disentangle and to move out of said pocket through said opening, aV raceWay to receive pinhooks issuing from said opening, a dam mounted over said raceWay and spaced therefrom to pass single pinhooksV and to stop tangled pinhooks, means to clear tangled pinhooks from said dam, and transfer mechanism to convey tangled pinliooks froml said dam to said pockets.

14. The method of sorting tangled pinhooks comprisingreciprocating the tangled pinhooks between a pair of reciprocating wall members upon a substantially hori-A zontalstationary support, and feeding thetdisentangled pinhooks from the tangled pinhooks in a direction perpendicular to the direction of reciprocation of said' members and the tangled pinhooks.

15. Thef method of sorting tangled pinhooks comprising reciprocatingthe tangled pinhooks between a pair of reciprocating wall members upon a substantially hori- Zontal stationary support, feeding the disentangled pinhooks from the tangled pinhooks ina direction perpendicular to the direction of reciprocation of said members and the tangled pinhooks, and passing the disentang'led pinhooks through an opening to pass only disentangled pinhooks and to stop tangled pinhooks.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS Canada Apr. 5, 1949 MWWWM, u, 

